| Conclusion Summary |
|
On July 22, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that Parent A, had just returned from maternity leave and was bringing her infant son to the facility. The facility is not approved for infants. The director is keeping the infant in the office with her. After conducting the investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Cole Eddins finds the allegation is substantiated. This conclusion is based on the following evidence of licensing rule violations which occurred at the facility:
RSMo 252.1. which states: "All buildings and premises used by a child-care facility to care for more than six children except those exempted from the licensing provisions of the department of health and senior services pursuant to subdivisions (1) to (15) of subsection 1 of section 210.211, shall be inspected annually for fire and safety by the state fire marshal, the marshal's designee or officials of a local fire district and for health and sanitation by the department of health and senior services or officials of the local health department. Evidence of compliance with the inspections required by this section shall be kept on file and available to parents of children enrolling in the child-care facility."
and
5 CSR 25-300.090 (2)(F)2. which stated: "A facility with a capacity of more than twenty (20) children or more than four (4) infants and toddlers shall have infant and toddler space separate from the older children. The space shall be separated by floor-to-ceiling walls with separate play, sleeping and bathroom space;"
On July 23, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Cole Eddins completed an unannounced inspection and interviewed Parent A, Caregiver Amy Guysette, and Caregiver Heather Osgood. Parent A stated that she returned from her maternity leave at the beginning of last week. She keeps Child A in the front office with her for the majority of the day. The office does not contain separate play, sleep, and bathroom spaces. Amy stated that she thinks that Child A was kept with Parent A in the front office for the majority of the day, but she was not sure. Parent A returned from her maternity leave about a week ago. Heather stated that she has observed Parent A keeping her newborn infant in the office with her for the majority of the day since Parent A returned from maternity leave a week ago. Child A was not enrolled at the facility. Child A does not go into other classrooms. The facility was not approved for children under the age of 12 months.
On July 23, 2025, CI Eddins conducted a walkthrough of the facility and observed Child A in the office with Parent A. Child A and Parent A were sitting together at the front desk. CI Eddins did not observe any children under the age of 12 months at the facility besides Child A. CI Eddins observed the February 26, 2025 fire inspection, which listed Brian Murphy as the fire inspector. CI Eddins did not observe any information regarding the age range of children in the fire inspection. CI Eddins also observed the facility's physical plant document. The narrative does not include infant rooms and states that all of the toddler rooms are measured at 35 square feet due to a variance.
On July 23, 2025, CI Eddins reviewed the Child Care Regulation Information System (CCRIS) and verified that the facility is only approved for children from 12 months to 12 years.
On July 30, 2025, CI Eddins interviewed Fire Inspector Brian Murphy. Brian stated that the facility is only approved for children aged 12 months to 12 years old.
|